APPENDIX A 245 



Portingall ; or the Spaniardes alone, by the want of whose 

 traffick there is no necessity of such decaye and losses as partly 

 appeared by the late restrainte betwene yo'^ Ma*^ and them. 

 And the forces of the Spaniardes, and Portingalls, being there 

 so much decayed as aforesaid ; the French of necessitie shalbe 

 brought vnder your highnes eye assuring yo^ Ma*y the case 

 being as it is, it were better a thousand folde thus to gayne the 

 start of them, rather then yerely to submitt o*" selves subiect to 

 haue all the marchauntes shippes of this Realme stayed in theire 

 handes ; wherby they shalbe armed at our costes, to beate vs 

 w*'^ roddes of our owne making, and our selves thereby spoyled 

 both of our wealth and strength. . . . 



But if yo'^ highnes will permit me, w*** my associates, eyther 

 overtly or covertly to perfourme the foresaide enterprise : then 

 w*^ the gayne thereof there may be easely such a competent 

 companie transported to the W. I. as may be hable not only to 

 disposses the S. thereof, but also to possesse for ever yo^' Ma*"^ 

 and Realme therew*^, and thereby not only to countervaile, but 

 by farr to surmount w*^ gaine, the aforesaid supposed losses : 

 besides the gowld and silver Mynes, the profitt of the soyle, and 

 the inward and outward customesfrom thence. By w^^ meanes 

 yo'^ highnes doubtfull frendes, or rather apparaunte enemyes, 

 shall not only be made weake, and poore, but therw*'* yo*^ selfe, 

 and Realme, made strong and rich, both by sea, and lande, 

 aswell there, as here. And where both is wrought vnder one, 

 it bringeth a most happy conclusion. ... By w^^ meanes also 

 yo"^ Ma*^® shall ingraffe and glewe to yo^ crowne, in effect all 

 the Northeme, and Southerne viages of the world, so that none 

 shalbe then well hable to crosse the seas, but subiect to yo^' 

 highnes devocion : considering the great increase of shipping 

 that will growe, and be maynetayned by those long vyages, 

 extending them selves so many sundrie wayes. And if I may 

 perceave that yo'' highnes shall like of this enterprise, then will 

 I most willinglie expresse my simple opinion, w°J^ waye the 

 W. I. maye w^^owt difficultie be more surprised, and defended, 

 w*^out w^^ resolucion, it were but labour lost. But if yo^ Ma*y 

 like to do it at all, then would I wish yo'^ highnes to consider 

 that delay doth often tymes prevent the perfourmaunce of good 

 thinges : for the winges of mans life are plumed w*^ the feathers 

 of death. And so submitting my self to y"" Ma*^®^ favourable 



